Cadillac's ATS-V Is Taking The Fight To The M3 With A 450hp Twin-Turbo V6

Cadillac has made some bold claims about the upcoming ATS-V. It’s been throwing phrases around like ‘M3 beater’ like it’s no big deal, but until now we didn’t know exactly how it intended to do that.

Thanks to a report by Road & Track, the cat’s out of the bag. Here are the headline figures: a 3.6-litre V6 makes 450hp and 445lb ft of torque. It tips the scales at 1633kg, which is only a supersized lunch heavier than the M3, but with more power it should give the German a run for its money.

The engine is a beefed-up version of the V6 from the CTS Vsport, with Pankl Racing Systems-sourced titanium connecting rods, two water-to-air intercoolers, and twin-turbine turbochargers. There’s a third radiator down low behind the front bumper, which is dedicated to extracting heat from the transmission and electronic locking differential.

But it’s not just in a straight line that the Caddy wants to outperform the BMW. The ATS-V will get an upgraded suspension to improve handling, with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres for extra grip. Opt for the track pack and you get an aero kit that provides 45kg of downforce at 150mph.

But perhaps most importantly to the purists is that you can spec your ATS-V with a six-speed manual gearbox. The majority of sales will likely go to the eight-speed auto ‘box, probably the same as the one found in the Corvette Stingray. Both gearboxes will allow you to perform no-lift shifts.

The ATS-V is expected to make its debut next week at the LA Auto Show as a coupe and a saloon. It’s always interesting to see America’s attempts to topple Europe’s performance car stranglehold, and if recent efforts out of the States are anything to go by, this ATS-V has a real chance of causing an upset.